Commentary / Japan Jun 17, 2018
Lies and the lying bureaucrats who tell them
by Takamitsu Sawa
The current political situation characterized by the domination of the prime minister's office has ruined the pride of career bureaucrats.
National / Politics Jun 5, 2018
Abe orders measures to prevent the recurrence of public document mishandling
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday instructed his ministers to draw up measures to prevent any recurrence of the improper handling of official documents following a series of scandals that have damaged public confidence in the government. "To secure proper management of public documents, the ...
Commentary / Japan May 22, 2018
Time to reform Japan's political parties
by Ichiro Asahina
Lawmakers must place priority on national interests, not partisan politics.
Editorials May 15, 2018
Public documents that record the government's decision-making process are, as defined by the law on managing such documents, "people's common intellectual property that underpins the foundation of democracy." The law implemented in 2011 mandates that such documents be created and preserved so citizens can ...
National / Politics Mar 26, 2018
by Tomohiro Osaki
Japan has been communicating with North Korea through “various means” on the possibility of meeting with leader Kim Jong Un.
National Dec 30, 2017
Buzzword from Abe cronyism scandal spawns hit with bean paste bun
A bean-paste bun that takes its name from a buzzword associated with the cronyism allegations leveled at Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2017 has become a hit for the design firm that came up with the product. About 100,000 boxes of Sontaku Manju (Sontaku Buns) ...
National / Media | MEDIA MIX Nov 4, 2017
Abe: Will he be a man of his many words?
by Philip Brasor
Since his big win in the lower house election on Oct. 22, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been talking about proceeding with measures to revise the Constitution, a project that has been close to his heart for most of his political career. However, during ...
National Mar 6, 2017
Osaka governor blocks opening of scandal-tainted school until after review
by Eric Johnston
Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui says he will not approve the opening of an elementary school at the center of a national political scandal involving Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife, Akie.